Thursday, April 23, 2015

Reviews 4/23

Barefoot Bound (prequel) was only provided to newsletter recipients
of Roxanne St Claire and cannot be purchased through retail stores.

Barefoot
Bound is a great in-between novella surrounding Gabe's relationship
with his family and the journey of his roots. I loved getting to see
Gabe and having more interaction with familiar faces. These kind of
books are always my favorite because we don't just get a good story
(which we do) we get to see whats happening to our favorites living
their every day lives. So many times you get that feeling when
you're a fan of this series or that series or this book and or character
and once you finish that book and you loved it so much you are left
with that feeling of what is that character doing now? What would they
be up to? What happens to them once the story is done? These in between
installments fill that gap and answer that question. They also give you
glimpses of what takes place before the real story begins.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

The
Bedding Proposal was a book I had to look past the cover to the flesh
of the story to enjoy. Many times I like to picture our hero as the man
on the cover while I'm reading historicals because typically they're
smoking hot, but the model on the cover looks like he's twelve. I'm not
sure if that's done on purpose because our h/h are such age opposites
since Leo is the younger of the two or if its just coincidence I dunno.
Either way Tracy is a great writer who creates female leads that know
how to stand on their own without needing to lean on the male
counterpart to carry the story through. Thalia is a little broken but
strongly convinced that she isn't interested in seeking further
relationships after her previous one was so devastating to her. I
didn't really feel much emotional connection between the two of them
aside from the heavy passion play which Tracy does a great job giving us
readers. I wish that some of the open plots and questions had been
answered because it left me wanting but in no way did I feel unfulfilled
by the end of the story because Leo as pig headed as he is strong armed
Thalia into opening herself to him until even she longed for his touch.
It's that sort of angsty broken heart rebound type of relationship I
don't see lasting forever (if it had been in real life anyhow since we
always get our HEA) but it was fun to be a part of it during the
journey. Tracy's writing is fun, its witty and its emotional and keeps just the right balance to keep me with it until the end.

Claiming ScarletRiver Jewel Resort, Book 4
Twenty years ago, Kevin Sunman’s life changed forever when the woman
he believed was his soulmate walked out of his life and disappeared. He
spent copious amounts of time and money on detectives who came up short,
leaving him lonely and frustrated. Determined to forget her, he saddled
up his custom motorcycle and hit the road searching for closure.
After many days and hundreds of miles on the road, Kevin checks
himself into the River Jewel Resort for a much needed break. Coming
face-to-face with his past and the woman who has haunted his every
waking moment for two decades wasn’t what he expected. And what he
learned about his mystery woman is far more than he ever bargained for.
Scarlet Noir, owner of the River Jewel Resort, has lived a life full
of mystery. Bringing soulmates together and helping them find their true
happiness has become the mask she’s worn to hide her own loneliness and
secrets. When the man she walked away from twenty years ago shows up at
her resort, she’s forced to remove the disguise and confront all that
she left behind.
Will their time apart prove to be too much to overcome? Or can the
River Jewel Resort heal their heartache, allowing them a second chance
to claim their true love?

**

The surprises that wait for Madison's readers make her a clever little witch.

Claiming Scarlet gives insight to both ends
of the magical love spectrum that are both torturous and wonderful and
often times more complicated than simply falling in love and getting
what you want.

I really enjoyed getting Scarlet's back
story and being a part of her blossoming as she discovered the way past
old pain and realized her path to healing was within her hands all
along. Claiming Scarlet opens doors to old hurt, redemption, healing,
acceptance and really hot sex.

Also, WHOA when you find out Scarlet's
biggest secret of all. Thank you Madison for writing such a
realistically story readers can relate to.Magical romance and fantasy
await.

About Madison

Romance author, Madison Sevier began her writing career in 2011 and has been having the time of her life ever since.

Her days are spent homeschooling her
daughter and doing the bookkeeping for her family’s business. At night,
she gets to become someone else, creating characters who work their way
into the hearts and minds of romance readers everywhere.

Being a coffee addicted Gemini, Madison
is known for doing whatever strikes her fancy at any given moment. Some
of her favorite hobbies include; hiking, animal rescue, writing,
reading, baking, horseback riding and she loves NASCAR.

Living in what everyone calls
Kentuckiana, she’s found the perfect paradise to allow her stories to
come to life. Against a backdrop of the Ohio River and surrounding
hillsides, she never knows where a new romance will come from. But you
can be sure you’re going to hear about it.

Madison loves hearing from her readers and meeting new ones. Feel free to contact her at any time.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

It
took me longer to finish this book than I thought it would. How to rate
and review Captive Prince? Um... It's hard to say whether I really
liked it or really didn't because there was an even amount of yays and
nays on my checklist of pros and cons. I have to give credit to the
author for creating a story that reads close to Anne Rice's Sleeping
Beauty series as far as the sex and brutality but on the other end I
felt like I was watching random stuff happening just on the outskirts of
a porno with the possibility of a romantic interlude but without the
leading stars to fill the spot. The writing itself was slightly poetic but on the other hand it felt as if it might have been missing something? That
might be just me not quite being pulled into the surroundings although
I'm not sure there were surroundings half the time since half of the
details that typically draw me into the books world didn't feel like
they were present. It takes talent to create and bring life to such
brutal characters but I wish we had gotten to explore more emotional
depth. I was really drawn in but I also wanted more. I get its the
first installment of the trilogy but as the initial start up I thought
there should have been more to bring me in. Because it is just the first
book I do want to read the other two since I want to see where the
author takes it but I was disappointed with so much disconnect between
myself and the story I hope that issue is resolved in book two.

I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Samhain.

Although
I wish I'd read the first book in the series I thought Idol of Blood
was fantastic. Kindred creates some beautiful imagery and intense sexual
scenes as Ra's journey continues. Kindred makes sure that you aren't
entirely lost on who's who but there are some information vacancies and
plenty of double take moments. Seriously. The
love triangle that completely mucks up Jaks life is one that pulls both
comedy and tension along with quite a bit of passion as well. Keep in
mind there is plenty of tension for all characters as they navigate
through their own personal trials, some that include some heart
wrenching moments. I love the dynamic of every person Kindred brings
into play and I really enjoyed her ability to create a story that is as
intense and as gripping as Idol of Blood.

I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Samhain.

So
at first I thought it was a little silly when I found the book and saw
that it involved the whole internet dating thing except that something
about the tragic history convinced me to give it a try. Plus, cowboy.
That in itself is worth the read. Who doesn't love a tragic broken
hearted cowboy? I mean, really? That's the stuff made for swooning. Thus
in came my favorite line in the whole book. "Do you like it?" Oh yes. The steamy hotel visit would blow your ovaries out. Seriously. Underneath
all of that there still lies the elephant in the room and the real
underlining issue that has kept Mack at arms length from being intimate
with anyone also carries through to some emotional moments that take
just a little nudging to get him on the right track. I thought the
entire thing was too short because I wanted so much more not that I am
disappointed at all because I thought what Anderson gave readers was
great but it ended so quickly. Still I can dream and hope that we get to see them again in the future one day.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

I
honestly have no idea how to rate On True Heart. The idea is complex
enough but I felt like a tourist passing through a really small town
where everyone else knows the ins and outs, the secrets, the stories and
the people passing me by on the sidewalk. I was window shopping instead
of doing the full shopping spree along with everyone else because the
residents were the only ones given a ticket to the store. I was
fascinated, I was drawn, I was curious. I wanted to know more but it
left me with more questions than answers. There's so much more to the
community and I know the information is there but I had to face the fact
that I hadn't been a part of the previous journey the town or its
residents had been on. I realized that the only book I've read is the
prequel that started it all which was great because it hinted at the
glimpses but I wondered, was there so much more I was missing out on?
Some secret club password I hadn't gained because I missed the journey?
I'm not really sure. That being said there is a lot that I did enjoy and
quite a bit that left me with a wonderful impression of Harmony and its
residents. It was enough to win my heart but I wanted more, I wanted to
explore the lives and the mysteries I felt had been left open to
explore.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

Before I begin can I just stop to admire this cover? I mean seriously. Yum. Okay
so about the book, where did the yum go? I mean, I felt like I was
waiting the whole time for something to happen. Grace and Cole are
fantastic characters - both of them. Laura never fails in that
department but the entire time I kept thinking where do they meet in the
middle? When do they open up? I get slow building but I just didn't
feel there was any building. I wanted romance, I wanted mystery, I
wanted zest and zeal. I got fizzle. There was plenty of good duo convo
for our h/h but I think I was expecting more "investigation" or more
"sex and flowers" or just more sex period. There is plenty of heat
and light heart thumps for the reader but I just wanted so much to
happen that I think I primed myself too early for an orgasm that wound
up fading before I actually crested over the climax of the story. I
admit that Brash left me wanting yet I still enjoyed the foreplay
despite my disappointment. I always enjoy Laura's writing because she
has a way of creating scenes that really put you in the "movie" so I
won't give up on her yet.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

Ten
Good Reasons was a book that had a late eighties early nineties romance
kind of feel to it for me, which is actually a compliment because I've
always felt that books back then had a more genuine feel to them. Both
in character and history. Although this is the second book in the series
and I haven't read the first Lauren makes it easy for new readers to
understand and follow what has been taking place between installments.
Evan and Lia are one of those opposites attract type couples even though
I really don't think that Evan is really as bad as everyone makes him
out to be. Lauren really made him a win for me and what's more is that
Lia is the perfect counter to even it all out for both the plot and the
broken heart sullen hero struggling to push society away. Lia really
carries the weight of the story well and she doesn't complain often or
make excuses. She finds ways to solve a problem and she works around it.
There were a couple things that I could have gone either way on but all
in all I really enjoyed Ten Good Reasons.

I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Samhain.

Loved it, loved it, loved it. Omg
why couldn't this book just last forever? I mean seriously. The
sarcasm, the fun, the exploration and to top it off the absolutely
steamy sky rocketing dirty talking brain love making and ofcourse the
heavy mind blowing ...
yeah. Yummy. Fantasy to the xtreme, and the alley scene... Epiiiiic! It
isn't sex unless its pulse pounding and wall slamming good. Duncan and Sapphira are a total win. I got three words for Marie Harte.

Duncan's
Descent is sexy, beautiful, and funny... its chalk full of some tense
tummy moments and plenty of wet panty moments, I absolutely loved it. I
have to get a print copy to add to my collection at home. I enjoyed it
so much I had to read it twice. Fantastic writing and world building. I
had a blast being a part of the journey.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley publishing.

I
had a quite a bit of mixed feelings toward Silver Bastard, and the
longer I read the more complex my feelings became. I really felt it was a
decent story once I was finished with it and I liked the *bonus* which
was great, but somewhere in the middle of the book Joanna began to loose
me. Puck's tough guy exterior along with his rough and tumble
personality gave way along with Becca's drive and her personal growth
and both of them took on different personalities. Puck didn't feel like
the same hard ass he started off as in the beginning and Becca slowly
but surely also began to lose that maturity and growth. Don't get me
wrong they both remain strong characters that carry the story but I
began to feel like I was lost in a trivial high school kind of drama.
What happened to the depth and the vibe? Did Joanna just run out of
steam as she wrote? I can't say but the longer I read the more difficult
it was for me to believe in either of them or why they were even
together. There were moments that redeemed them but I was still left
with that fizzle out feeling that didn't quite make the five star marker
I felt it should have achieved. I still believe in Joanna's writing
because she manages to create a world that is lush and well developed
and I look forward to what happens in the next installment but Silver
Bastard will remain an indifferent part of the MC's journey for me.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

I
feel like I'm missing out on some kind of secret. It might be because I
just started reading from book two but I'm definitely going to buy the
first book because I can tell there is a great story to be told from
what I've read because there is a great idea in there somewhere but
Deadly Web left me feeling more lost than satisfied once I reached the
end. I felt as if the book itself was just a really long chapter that
was taken out of a full novel that kind of left out the surrounding
story. I see the potential for a fantastic series as far as the
Guardian / Psychic world goes but I need so much more. Kay Hooper never
fails me so I know she has something wonderful planned.

I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley.

I
liked this installment better than the first in this series I felt Anna
grew up a tiny bit which was definitely needed to continue this series
to make it half way believable. I thought some of the plot points
and story dragging was a little bit much yet Sierra managed to carry it
through and redeem it. I felt that readers got to see more of the inner
workings within Anna and Alec and their purpose to continue on their
path together. I like that the Distraction wasn't just a transition
between the first book and the third book it carried itself more than
the beginning did. The characters were more assertive in their
decisions, they were more confident in their actions and kept it until
the end.

I still had a few issues with the story which lowered
the star rating but this installment was by far an improvement on the
series.